Tarmac Precast keeps Snowhill Development on track
Bespoke precast bridge beams are set to be manufactured and supplied for the construction of a new viaduct which will carry the Midland Metro past Birmingham Snow Hill into the city centre, as part of extensive rail infrastructure improvements for the city.
Around two hundred and fifty TY and TYE complimentary edge beams measuring fifteen metres long are being specially designed and supplied by Tarmac Precast, the UK’s leading suppliers of Precast concrete as part of a contract worth over £300,000 with MPB Structures, the Northamptonshire–based company appointed by lead contractor Kier Build.
The precast beams which will be manufactured over a six-week period at Tarmac Precast’s Henlade site, will be used to construct a viaduct which will run parallel to the existing Metroline tracks. The viaduct will be an extension of the existing Metroline, which will operate a drop-off system at the basement level of three newly constructed buildings forming part of the landmark, Snow Hill mixed-use development by Ballymore Properties.
It is planned that the line will also serve the main retail, commercial and leisure areas including Bull Street, Corporation Street, Broad Street and will terminate on the Hagley road at Edgbaston Five ways.
Insitu concrete will be used to raise the level of the deck and the TY precast beams will be positioned horizontally across the viaduct to create the actual deck along which the tramline runs. As the precast beams are installed on specifically designed falsework, this allows the support beams and deck to be raised using one pour of insitu concrete rather than on three separate occasions.
Alan Hall, project manager, MPB Structures said: “ We were aware that Tarmac Precast have the ability to manufacture good quality precast units within a short time period. The units are always of a high specification and the speed and ease with which they can be installed is beneficial when we are working to tight project build times.”
Commenting on the contract, Kevin Bourne, account manager at Tarmac Precast said: “We are delighted to be involved in this landmark mixed-use project and most importantly, its role in further enhancing Birmingham’s public transport links which will inevitably set new standards for the city.”
For more information on Tarmac Precast contact us or call the brochure request line on 08456 044 114, quoting code PR34.
January 2008
